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I'm not trying to sell a particular recipe with step by step instructions for the best steak marinade. I am suggesting that steak tastes better with a good marinade and here are a few recipes I've tried.

Several years ago, while waiting at O’Hare airport for a flight home, I noticed a dad with what I estimated to be, his 2-year old son, looking out the tall windows at the large wide body jet airliner parked at their gate. The sheer size of the jet was inspiring - but what intrigued me was the little boy who would slowly grow to become a full-sized man.

The knowledge of constructability and how to impart that into our designs has become a challenge for many design firms. Surprisingly, some contractors lack practical expertise in this area as well. What can we do about that?

There is something magical about taking the rough outline of a building and breathing life into it by crafting how materials and systems "meet and greet". He may not have originated the phrase, but architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe observed that "God is in the details".

I have read with interest articles and blog posts lamenting the poor productivity of construction and the need to get in step with mass production manufacturing. While this is an interesting topic and would appear to be a viable observation…

Recognizing that many design firms will be content to continue working as they always have and not take the Lean "plunge", a coupon highlighting our free and wasteful efforts is provided. Get your coupon now!

Drawing Systems are intended to simplify and streamline aspects of the CD documentation effort. Generally, they are not "perfect" in the sense they purposely do not try to cover every kind of situation found – just the majority of them. Unusual, atypical and special situations may warrant additional drawings or notes.

How has Lean Thinking been applied to a design professionals work? Are there better ways to document and what does that look like? Does the BIM environment and workflow reduce or eliminate the need for 2D drawings and documentation altogether? These are good questions which I will try to address below.

Oct 2, 2017

What is Lean Architecture?

Lean Architecture is the ongoing process of rethinking and improving architectural methodology. It is the pursuit of better work by applying Lean principles to every aspect of practice. It is about smarter information flow and understanding how we perceive and process information in order to be better communicators amongst ourselves and to the users of our services. It is identifying what adds value and reducing and eliminating what doesn’t.

Management

Southwest Airlines realized they made money when planes were in the air. An operation was developed around this idea and coupled with outstanding service. What can design professionals learn from this?

Delivery

Most buildings are unique, but the processes used to manage, design, and document them are mostly the same – or should be. These practices are open to improvement, and in many cases, drastic improvement.

3 goals

Why Lean?

Lean Thinking has become the terminology associated with best understanding and advancing processes in manufacturing, software development, management, construction, and healthcare. Other management philosophies worth noting are Six Sigma and the Theory Of Constraints.